Steps 4 Success Psychological, Counselling and Coaching Services are made up of experienced and qualified psychologists, and allied health professionals and support staff. The team is chosen for their professional and caring qualities with everyone's focus being about providing an environment that is welcoming where you are given an opportunity to bring about positive and sustainable change in your life.
Kaylene Akins T/as Steps 4 Success
ABN: 15 906 871 913
Kaylene Akins - Principal/Reg. Psychologist No. PSY0001223456
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Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Registered MA Provider of Medicare Services
• Registered Work Cover Provider
• Registered: Victims Services Counsellor (currently have books closed)
• Founding Member: International Society for Coaching Psychology (ISCP)
• Member: International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA).
• Member: University of Sydney Coaching & Mentoring Association (USCMA).
• Member of the Australian Association of Psychology Inc. - MAAP
• Provider of Professional Supervision and approved AHPRA supervisor for registration.
Kaylene Akins - Master Applied Sc. (Psychology of Coaching); B.Soc.Sc, Grad.Dip. Counselling. Kaylene completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology through Charles Sturt University in 1990 and then went on to do her Post Graduate in Counselling at the same University before becoming fully registered as a Psychologist.
Kaylene has worked in both government and non-government organisations. She was employed as an Adolescent and family therapist in a residential care facility in 1991 and for 7 years worked with children, young people and families to resolve family breakdown and conflict to reconcile the differences in a behaviour modification and therapeutic framework using a systemic model. Between 1998 and 1999 Kaylene become the NSW Clinical Manager for out of home services over seeing 7 out of home services to do with placements and case management, staffing and contracts with some of the state's most challenging young people.
During this time Kaylene also worked part time in her own Private Practice doing individual and couples counselling and family therapy. At the end of 1999 she moved into full time private practice at her practice in Killarney Vale. In 2004 she completed a Masters in Coaching Psychology at the University of Sydney.
She provides evidence based psychological services for children, adolescents and adults with various clinical presentations – including health and stress management, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, bereavement, behavioural problems with children and adolescents and parenting, relationship counselling, PTSD, trauma, domestic violence, and, sleep problems, AOD eating disorders, bipolar and dissociative disorders and peri-natal care. Furthermore as a coaching psychologist she uses a positive psychology framework doing lifestyle, business and executive coaching around workplace issues, and for those clients who may want to get more out of their life and address lifestyle and work/life balance relating to their health and well-being.
Kaylene draws on treatment modalities of CBT, ACT, DBT, IPT, IFS, Narrative, solution focused; positive psychology strength based models; and incorporates a systems approach. However, she has experience in many therapeutic models and based on the client’s assessed need will draw in the best practice model of evidence based treatments to support the clients to achieve the best outcomes from treatment working in a collaborative way with the client.
Kaylene is available for appointments Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and every second Saturday.
Jesse Anderson - Registered Psychologist (Registration PSY0002563737). 
Jesse is a psychologist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Agency (AHPRA) and has worked with Steps 4 Success since 2022. He is a member of the Australian Association of Psychology Inc. (AAPi).
Jesse completed his Master of Science (Psychology) at Massey University in New Zealand and has a background in counselling. He has worked as a counsellor with Lifeline Australia as a call coach, student mentor, and telephone crisis supporter since 2001.
Jesse works with clients across the lifespan who present with a range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, grief, trauma and neurodiversity. He uses a variety of evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); and Solution-focused Therapy, underpinned by a person-centred and strengths-based model.
Jesse’s approach is that each person has their unique story, both of their own making and inherited, and he sees it as a privilege to be invited to understand a person’s world and join them on their journey. In doing so he believes in his clients' ability to create meaningful change in their lives.
Originally from New Zealand, Jesse has lived in Australia for more than 20 years and called the Central Coast home since 2016.
Jesse is available for appointments on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and every second Saturday.
Candice Ferguson, Registered Psychologist (PSY0001814429)
Candice has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of roles. For over a decade Candice worked as a Couple and Family Therapist, fostering and supporting healthy relationships with individuals, couples and families; and working with clients of all ages from diverse cultural backgrounds. In the last 3 years Candice gained further experience working with young people and their families, during her time as an adolescent family therapist.
Candice completed her Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) and Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology with the University of Western Sydney, before going on to complete the Post Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology with Macquarie University. She is a registered Psychologist with AHPRA, and is a member of the Australian Association of Psychology Incorporated (AAPi). Candice also has formal training in Systemic Family therapy. She is also a SIRA registered psychologist for Work Cover referrals.
Candice has experience in working with clients with a range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, family/relationship stress, communication/conflict, trauma, behavioural management, grief and loss, and family violence, as well as other concerns.
Candice holds a strong relational focus, whilst utilising a wide range of therapeutic models including, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma informed approaches, Solution Focussed therapy and strength based models.
Candice made a “sea change” moving from Sydney to the Central Coast with her family, and has been a valued member of the team of practitioners at Steps 4 Success. Candice is available for appointments on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
Melinda Catalano (Practice Manager and Life Coach)
Melinda first joined the practice in 2006 and has been working with us ever since with a couple of small breaks as she added to her family.
She has a Diploma in Life Coaching and she loves managing the office and ensuring client’s needs are dealt with it in a professional, empathic and caring manner as the first point of contact.
She welcomes your contact to enquire about our services and to make an appointment with one of the psychologist to best support your needs to improve you health and wellbeing.
